PSYC 1315 1st Edition Lecture 10 Outline of Last Lecture I Properties of sound II Structure of the ear III Auditory processing IV Other senses V Pain Outline of Current Lecture I Consciousness II 5 levels of awareness III Psychoactive drugs Current Lecture I II Consciousness an individuals awareness of external events and internal sensations under a condition of arousal a Awareness the subjective state of being aware of one s self thoughts and experiences i Occurs in a global brain workspace involving the prefrontal cortex b Arousal the physiological state of being engaged with the environment i Determined by the reticular activating system 1 Reticular activating system helps keep you away c Theory of Mind i Knowledge that people think and have private experiences ii Emerges around age 4 iii Individuals with autism may lack theory of mind 1 Socially awkward have no social context very blunt Levels of Awareness a Higher Level Consciousness involves i Controlled processes individuals actively focus their efforts toward a goal Requires selective attention These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute III 1 Can become an automatic process 2 Are slower when starting out ex Learning how to play a new sport but as you go through the motions many times it becomes an automatic process ii Executive function complex cognitive processes Allows us to focus on some thoughts while ignoring others b Lower Level Consciousness involves i Automatic processes a state of consciousness that requires little attention 1 Ex texting writing ii Daydreaming involves wandering thoughts imagination fantasy 1 Can be potentially useful reminding solving 2 Daydreaming happens when you do not have to be fully paying attention to something iii Altered States of Consciousness 1 Can be produced by drugs trauma meditation fatigue tired from a long day cant think as well hypnosis sensory deprivation not going in public for a long time and or mental disorders iv Subconscious awareness 1 Incubation refers to the subconscious processing that leads to a solution to a problem after a break from conscious thought about the problem a Light bulb goes off Requires that we first actively engage the problem i Unconscious processes that problem so that s why the answer comes out of no where 2 Sleep and Dreams levels of awareness are lower but consciousness is not absent a Ex fMRI studies reveal activity in the language areas of the brain while sleeping i People in a coma can somewhat processes things spoken to them v No awareness 1 Unconscious generally refers to someone who has been knocked out by a blow or anesthesia 2 Unconscious thought Freud a reservoir of unacceptable thoughts and feeling beyond conscious awareness a Motives that are so deep dark that we cant recognize aren t aware of them Psychoactive Drugs a Psychoactive drugs act on the nervous system to alter consciousness modify perception and change mood i Continued use can lead to 1 Tolerance taking more drugs to achieve the same feeling or high 2 Addiction 3 Physical dependence withdrawal symptoms a Headaches seizures convulsions irritablilty 4 Psychological dependence anything that releases dopamine the brain starts to think that whatever action that the dopamine is associated with is important can become addictive b Depressants are psychoactive drugs that slow down mental and physical activity Includes i Alcohol a depressant that slows down brain activity 1 Effects vary based on consumption body weight metabolism rate 2 Increases GABA in the cerebral cortex cerebellum hippocampus amygdala and nucleus accumbens a Affects cerebellum first which affects coordination sloppy movements b People loosen up become more social because alcohol inhibits the prefrontal cortex from letting you make better decisions 3 Involved in 60 of homicides 65 of aggressive sexual assualts 4 Alcoholism a disorder that involves long term repeated uncontrolled compulsive drinking a Research George Vaillant i One third rule for alcoholism 1 One third die or are in terrible shape 2 One third are trying to beat their addiction 3 One third are abstinent or only drink socially ii Found that recovery from alcoholism can be predicted by four factors 1 Having a strong negative experience with drinking 2 Finding a substitute medication makes you violently nauseous when coming in contact with alcohol exercise eating 3 Developing new positive relationships 4 Joining a support group ii Barbiturates depressant drugs that decrease central nervous system activity 1 Once widely prescribed to treat insomnia 2 Lethal when paired with alcohol iii Tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax are depressant drugs that reduce anxiety and induce relaxation 1 Low doses make you calm high does can cause drowsiness and confusion 2 Replaced barbiturates in humans iv Opiates such as Morphine and Heroin consists of opium and depresses the central nervous system and creates a euphoria 1 Highly addictive c Stimulants are psychoactive drugs that increase the central nervous system s activity i Caffeine most commonly used psychoactive drug 1 Increases arousal attentiveness 2 Withdrawal symptoms include headaches lethargy and difficulties concentrating ii Nicotine psychoactive ingredient found in tobacco 1 Can improve alertness and attention reduce anger and anxiety and relieve pain 2 Withdrawal symptoms include irritability craving inability to focus sleep disturbances and increased appetite 3 Tobacco is involved in 1 in every 5 deaths More than the combined total of deaths from AIDS alcohol motor vehicles homicide illegal drugs and suicide 4 Smoking is decreasing among both adolescents and college students iii Amphetamines Ritalin Vyvanse Adderall are stimulant drugs that boost energy increase awareness and help individuals lose weight 1 Increase glutamate neurotransmitter excitatory 2 Crystal meth aka crank or tina can be injected or swallowed to produce euphoria for 4 6 hours a Made rom household products iv Cocaine derived from coca plants and can be snorted or injected to produce euphoria for about 15 to 30 minutes 1 Crack a lower purity form of free base cocain and contains sodium bicarbonate as impurity Produces euphoria similar to cocaine v MDMA ecstasy or molly a synthetic drug with both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties 1 Releases serotonin dopamine and norepinephrine 2 MDMA destroys axons that release